Sightseeing in Britain

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a country of strong attraction for tourists. The charm of it lies in its variety of scenery: the finest combination of sea, highland and valleys, lakes and rivers, fields and meadows. Englishmen like their parks and gardens. The art of gardening has a very old tradition in England. Their parks are pieces of the country left in the middle of town while the English country looks parklike.

The UK is the country with a long and exciting history and a rich cultural heritage. People from different corners of our planet go there to see Stonehenge, a relic of an ancient civilization, Loch Ness and its legendary monster, the Royal residence and numerous castles. The cities and towns of Britain — London, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Oxford and Cambridge and many others — present a lot of interest to foreigners.

Stonehenge is the most famous prehistoric monument in Britain. The number of visitors who come to see it increases year after year. Stonehenge is located in the middle of Salisbury plain, England, and it won’t take you long to get there by car or coach from London. Stonehenge is not a single structure, but the arrangement of large stones that were built over a period of approximately 1,500 years. Today it is widely believed that Neolithic peoples of the British Isles began constructing the monument about 5,000 years ago.

Stratford-upon-Avon, where Shakespeare was born, is now one of the most popular tourist centres. People from all over the world come to see Shakespeare's birthplace. There are a lot of relics in the town associated with Shakespeare and his immortal works: the Grammar School where he studied, the church where he was buried, the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. The town is famous for its great Shakespeare festivals which are held annually from April to September. No other part of the country is so unmistakably English.

Only eight miles away from Stratford-upon-Avon there is another place which attracts a lot of visitors — the ancient town of Warwick dominated by one of the finest medieval castles in Great Britain. It contains an excellent collection of arms, armour and paintings.

Another popular tourist centre is the city of York which is unique in having evidence of occupation throughout the ages from Roman, Saxon and Viking times to the present day. York has a lot of world famous attractions offering something for everyone. It has the largest cathedral in Northern Europe which is 800 years old. The Viking Centre in York brings the visitors face to face with real characters from the city's Viking past. The National Railway Museum, the largest of its kind in the world, provides a vast collection of engines and Royal carriages.

Tourism is one of the most important industries in Scotland. Tourists from all over the world come to enjoy the beauty of Scottish scenery, to walk among heather-covered hills, to visit ancient historic castles, to eat Scottish salmon, to see Scotsmen in kilts playing bagpipes, although only a few Scots wear kilts these days.

Notes

1. armour – доспехи

2. arms – оружие

3. heritage – наследие

4. immortal – бессмертный

5. manuscript – рукопись

6. masterpiece – шедевр

7. medieval – средневековый

8. relic – реликвия

9. bagpipes – волынка

10. do sights – осматривать достопримечательности

1. Answer the questions.

1. Why does Britain attract many visitors?

2. What places of interest can visitors see in the UK?

3. What do you know about Stonehenge?

4. What is Stratford-upon-Avon famous for?

5. What does the ancient town of Warwick house?

6. What is the city of York unique in?

7. What is one of the most important industries of Scotland and why?

2. Make up situations using the following words and word combinations:

a) to do sights

to attract visitors

to have a tradition

to present a lot of interest

to have a rich heritage

b) a prehistoric monument

to be located

to get by car

the arrangement of stones

a relic of an ancient civilization

to be built

c) to see Shakespeare’s birthplace

a lot of relics

to be buried

to be associated with

to be held annually

to be famous for

d) a popular tourist centre

to be unique in

to offer

to have evidence of

to provide a collection

e) to enjoy the beauty of Scotland

to walk among

to play bagpipes

to wear kilts

3. Class improvisation.

1. You have just returned from the UK where you spent your holidays. Share your impressions with your fellow students.

2. Your friend has just returned from his working holiday in England. You were in England last year. Share your impressions.

3. If you were planning to visit the UK, what part of the country would you choose? Give your reasons. Try to persuade your friend to go with you to this particular area for a holiday.

4. Bearing in mind its climate and general character which part of Britain would you choose to live in? Is it the same part that you would like to visit for a holiday? Why (not)? Give your reasons.

4. Class Communication

Act out a talk between a Belarusian student and a British student. The former wants to acquire some information about Britain.

The UK Quiz

1. From the European continent the British Isles are separated by

a) the North Sea and the Atlantic Ocean

b) the Irish Sea and the English Channel

c) the English Channel and the North Sea

2. The longest river of the British Isles is the river

a) Severn

b) Thames

c) Shannon

3. Ben Nevis is

a) a famous Scottish nationalist

b) the highest mountain in Britain

c) an island on the west coast

4. The Union Jack is

a) made up of three stripes

b) made up of three crosses on a blue ground

c) a very old flag which began to be used in the 13 century

5. The three crosses of the Union Jack

a) reflect the three main religions in the country

b) are the crosses of England, Scotland and Ireland

c) symbol the union of Wales, England and Scotland

6. The British Parliament consists of

a) the House of Representatives and the Queen

b) the Senate and the Prime Minister

c) the House of Lords, the House of Commons and the Queen as its head

7. Members of the Parliament are elected at a general election which is usually held

a) every four ears

b) every five ears

c) every six ears

8. The majority of the British work now in

a) manufacturing industry

b) service industries

c) agriculture

9. William Shakespeare was born in

a) London

b) Newcastle-upon-Tyne

c) Stratford-upon-Avan

10. The City of York has

a) the museum of arms and paintings

b) the National Railway Museum

c) the British museum

11. The weather in Britain is

a) sunny all the year round

b) considered more reliable than any weather in the world

c) very changeable

12. The Queen of Great Britain

a) plays the major role in law-marking

b) is also the Queen of the Commonwealth

c) never signs Laws

13. The Commonwealth includes such countries as

a) Ireland, Canada, Australia

b) New Zealand, China, India

c) Canada, USA, France

14. The City of London houses

a) mills, docks, factories

b) banks, offices, stock exchange

c) power stations, research institutes, laboratories.

15. Stonehenge

a) is a collection of large ancient stones which are of no significant interest.

b) is an important geographical maker located in southern Britain

c) is the most famous prehistoric monument in Britain

16. The IARU members are:

a) the Universities of Edinburgh and Manchester.

b) Oxford and Cambridge Universities.

c) London and Bristol Universities.